Best CO2 Kit for 75g Planted?-

[Saltinthedesert]

I’ve done some research on adding a quality C02 setup to my 75 planted tank. I currently run a frankenstein kit on my favorite 20g so I’m familiar with the concept and setup. I’ve seen some cheaper brands on Amazon I’m leery of (CLSCEA and ZRDR) since it will be in the house and CO2 leaks are not something to mess with. 
 

Anyone have a full kit they’ve bought in the last year or two they love? Thanks in advance. 

[Galabar]

Whatever you get, make sure it is dual stage so that there is no end-of-tank dump of CO2.  The ACO regulator checks that box and seems to be very good quality.

[AllFishNoBrakes]

If you’re not wanting to go the “mix your own” route, I’d buy an ACO regulator, a 5 lb tank from a welding supply store, and then tubing and diffuser and you’re in business. 
 

I have two mix your own systems and haven’t had issues. I also have a 5 lb tank with 2 bubble counters to be able to run 2 tanks off a single 5 lb tank. All 3 of them do the exact same thing. 

[Saltinthedesert]

Thanks for the info. Super helpful. Also, I got the impression you felt bad about being honest with your experience, so I just say that I appreciate that honesty and also not trying to smear anyone along the way. I would expect Co Op to want that kind of feedback.

 

On 8/12/2023 at 3:24 AM, Pepere said:

I initially bought the co op regulator.  
 

Out of the box upon hookup to the tank it would constantly  vent co2 out of the regulator.  Constant leak out through the body hissing even when solenoid was not active.  Shut offthe tank valve and pressure guage would drop to zero in seconds.  It was not the gasket or too loosely attached, it was coming from inside the regulator.

 

Candi sent another one promptly.

The replacement arrived and set up great.  2 weeks later it failed.  This time, when the solenoid would turn on, bubble started to flow out the bubble counters into the tank, but gradually secondary pressure would fail and bubbles would stop.  Ie main guage still showed pressure, but secondary guage would deplete to no pressure and flow would stop.  Shutting off the solenoid would allow pressure to return over several hours but  turning it back on would repeat.

 

Candi offered a replacement again, but I opted for a refund instead.  This was when the regulator first hit the market and I had sort of lost some confidence in it, not knowing what the overall experience was among people who bought them, and seeing that a regulator failure could wipe out all the fishies , I opted to try a different regulator instead….  I had great confidence in the Co ops policies and that they would stand by it, but didnt want the headaches…

 

I bought a replacement from CO2 Art and spent a significantly higher amount of money doing so at $269.00 for the regulator and 50.00 for each bubble counter.  On the plus side it offers a 10 year warranty.

had the 2nd Co Op regulator not stopped working for me I would still be using it today with no complaints or concerns.  I do however have experience with both of them.

I noticed out of the box the fit and finish of the CO2art regulator was more refined, but nothing I would have willingly spent the extra money for.  
 

The biggest difference I noted is that the CO2art bubble counter needle valve is much easier to finely adjust the bubble count with.  It is much easier to adjust it from 2 bubble per second to three.. the Co op needle valve was more finicky in getting it dialed in.  Honestly I could have dealt with it as once you get it set right, it is not something you adjust very often…

Had the Co op regulator been on the market for a year or so and they had a better read on their warranty rate, I probably would have tried another replacement.  As it was, I bought mine the day it hit the website and they just didnt have a known track record yet.

 

I am not writing any of this to dissuade anyone from buying the co ops unit, but rather to try to explain what differences I experienced between the two regulators and explain why I have experience with both of them.

 

Given that the coop regulator has been on the market for about a year now, I likely would have been willing to try another replacement as they have a much better feel for what failure rate is.  Ie, any time you have a mass produced product there will be some failure rate.  I have no doubt that CO2art experiences some failure rate in their regulators as well…

Is the fit and finish difference between the two units or the finer needle adjustment worth the price difference?  Nope.  Not even close.  I would take the co op price hands down.     
 

Is the 10 year warranty of the CO2Art regulator worth the price difference?  By golly that is a hard one to answer….  In my case, given that the co op unit has only been on the market a little under a year, personally, I would say it ever so slightly edges the CO2Art unit ahead…  depending on your price tolerance you could very easily feel differently…

I have no regrets over the CO2Art purchase, and it has worked flawlessly, but it is well over twice as expensive.  I may never know if the 10 year warranty makes up for the price difference.

 

[Mmiller2001]

Do yourself a favor and buy a precision regulator or build your own with quality parts. I can no longer recommend CO2art or GLA or the like after owning a precision regulator. Alan Le regulators are top notch and lab grade.

[Mmiller2001]

On 8/12/2023 at 5:46 PM, Pepere said:

And @Mmiller2001 is now advocating me upgrading further….

I make such expensive mistakes. Had I known a precision regulator would have saved me money…..in the long run. This Alan Le can be handed down to my future grandkids 😆

[Vicki]

On 8/12/2023 at 6:19 PM, Pepere said:

Saving money by lasting longer?  Or reducing CO2 use?

 

can you flesh out what the benefits of the Alan Le over the CO2Art, GLA regulators are?  
 

is it more Precise ability to gradually change bubble count?

@Mmiller2001 Do you have any feedback here? I’m actually curious, too. (Not that I’m in the market for a regulator right now, but learning is learning.)

[Mmiller2001]

On 8/12/2023 at 6:19 PM, Pepere said:

Saving money by lasting longer?  Or reducing CO2 use?

 

can you flesh out what the benefits of the Alan Le over the CO2Art, GLA regulators are?  
 

is it more Precise ability to gradually change bubble count?

 

On 8/12/2023 at 6:48 PM, Vicki said:

can you flesh out what the benefits of the Alan Le over the CO2Art, GLA regulators are?  
 

is it more Precise ability to gradually change bubble count?

I would have saved money and the Alan Le will last my life time and not blink. Here's how I would have saved. I bought 2 CO2art's and one GLA. All have problems. either leaking or BPM drift after a short period. They all have overly sensitive needle valves that make adjustments frustrating. I have no doubt they will have to be completely replaced in 2 years. I've had to do warranty service 3 times between the 3 regulators. Combined cost of the 2 CO2arts and GLA = 550.00. The Alan lee cost me 350.00. The Alan Le is lab grade and designed to handle hydraulic systems where the aforementioned are hobbyist level regulators. The Alan Le can handle up to 1K PSI and can cycle 10 to 20 thousand cycles (on/off) times per day with a life time cycle of a billion. The aforementioned would implode. The Alan Le is high precision designed around performance and stability. The Alan lee easily allows me to swap to a bubble counter or a flow meter. A flow meter is preferred because you can actually measure stability. It's impossible to see a difference between 10 BPS or 15 BPS. The Alan Lee can operate in temperatures of up to 300F environment. Those others would melt. Look at my Ph graphs, you can see the difference.

GLA here

A

Alan Le here

Edited August 13, 2023 by Mmiller2001